Field-deployable ballistic protection system

ABSTRACT

A field-deployable ballistic protection system is described for protecting a structure or area from ballistic damage (such as by small arms, grenades, mortars, etc.). The field-deployable ballistic protection system includes a posterior sheet, an anterior sheet, and a spacing bracket. The posterior sheet is configured to be secured to a structure. The spacing bracket is configured to be secured to the structure through the posterior sheet. The anterior sheet is configured to be secured to the spacing bracket so as to create a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet. The void is configured to receive a granular material, such as a locally-available soil, therein for providing ballistic protection to the structure. Also described are a free-standing embodiment of the field-deployable ballistic protection system and various methods of installation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of earlier-filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/483,619, filed on Apr. 10, 2017, and entitled “FIELD-DEPLOYABLE BALLISTIC PROTECTION SYSTEM.” The identified earlier-filed provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to the protection of structures and other areas from ballistic damage.

2. Related Art

Various structures and areas and other objects require protection from ballistic damage. Proper ballistic protection, as provided by various systems and methods of the prior art, is often heavy, difficult to transport, and must be manufactured remotely from the eventual place of use. This leads to difficulties in manufacturing and transporting ballistic protection, which can lead to delays and inadequately available ballistic protection.

One exemplary field in which ballistic protection is needed is expeditionary structures. Military compounds housing troops located in hostile areas are often protected by perimeter barriers that provide limited mitigation for ballistic, fragment, and/or explosives via direct fire; however, indirect fire weapons and weapons fired from vantage points may have trajectories over perimeter protection. Expeditionary living quarters located within military compounds, often referred to as B-Huts, are frequently constructed from plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) and wood 2×4 construction, which offers little protection from these threats. Protection for these expeditionary structures has been traditionally determined to be costly and difficult to deploy. Therefore, it is common for these structures to remain unprotected and be damaged by incoming ballistics.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a distinct advance in the art by providing a field-deployable ballistic protection system. The field-deployable ballistic protection system provides protection against various ballistic threats to expeditionary structures, permanent structures, areas, equipment, personnel, and/or other objects. The field-deployable ballistic protection system is relatively lightweight and easy to ship or bring along to a deployed location. The field-deployable ballistic protection system is configured to be assembled by service members or others with minimal tools and experience required, using locally available granular material such as sand or dirt for providing at least a portion of the ballistic protection.

A first embodiment of the invention is directed to a field-deployable ballistic protection system comprising a posterior sheet, an anterior sheet, and a spacing bracket. The posterior sheet is configured to be secured to a structure. The spacing bracket is configured to be secured to the structure through the posterior sheet. The anterior sheet is configured to be secured to the spacing bracket so as to create a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet. The void is configured to receive a granular material therein for providing ballistic protection to the structure.

A second embodiment of the invention is directed to a field-deployable ballistic protection system comprising a posterior sheet, an anterior sheet, a spacing bracket, and a post. The posterior sheet is associated with a posterior lattice, and the anterior sheet is associated with an anterior lattice. The spacing bracket is secured to the posterior lattice and the anterior lattice. The spacing bracket creates a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet. The post is configured to be installed into an underlying ground surface. The post, being installed in the underlying ground surface, is configured to receive the void therearound so as to retain the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice in a vertical orientation. The void is configured to receive a granular material therein for providing ballistic protection.

A third embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of providing ballistic protection to a structure. The method comprises the following steps: securing a posterior sheet to a structure wall of the structure; securing a spacing bracket to the posterior sheet and the structure wall; securing an anterior sheet to an anterior end of the spacing bracket, so as to form a void therein; and filling the void with a granular material for providing ballistic protection to the structure.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of providing ballistic protection to an area. The method comprises the following steps: driving a post into a post hole in an underlying ground surface; placing an anterior lattice and a posterior lattice into an open position so as to present a void therebetween; emplacing the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice over the installed post such that the post is disposed within the void; and filling the void with a granular material for providing ballistic protection to the area.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a top view of one embodiment of a field-deployable ballistic protection system installed on a structure;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the field-deployable ballistic protection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a side view of an exemplary spacing bracket of the field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another exemplary spacing bracket of the field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a preparatory step of assembling a field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a lower filling step of assembling the field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a central filling step of assembling the field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an upper filling step of assembling the field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 7A is a front view of another embodiment of a field-deployable ballistic protection system;

FIG. 7B is a top view of the field-deployable ballistic protection system of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is an end view of the field-deployable ballistic protection system of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a front view of a lattice assembly of the field-deployable ballistic protection system, shown in a collapsed position;

FIG. 8B is a front view of the lattice assembly, shown in an open position;

FIG. 9A is a top view of the lattice assembly of FIG. 8, shown in the collapsed position; and

FIG. 9B is a top view of the lattice assembly of FIG. 8, shown in the open position.

The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention references the accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “embodiments”, “various embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or “other embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “embodiments”, “various embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or “other embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention, as viewed from the top, is shown in FIG. 1. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 is secured to a wall 12 of a structure 14, such as a typical expeditionary structure in a combat zone, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. The field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 therefore uses the existing structure 14 to provide at least a portion of the support to erect the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. In other embodiments, such as illustrated in FIGS. 7-9B, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 is free-standing, such that it utilizes a post 16 and a lattice assembly 18 for structural stability. In still other embodiments, not illustrated, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 utilizes a combination of the two above-discussed embodiments. Thus, various components of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be interchangeable and usable with either of the two disclosed embodiments, such that installers can customize for the specific scenario encountered.

The field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 of embodiments of the invention comprises a posterior sheet 20, an anterior sheet 22, and at least one spacing bracket 24. In some embodiments, the posterior sheet 20 and the anterior sheet 22 may be one unitary, continuous sheet 26 that is folded at a bottom end 28 (being opposite a top end 30, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) so as to retain a granular material 32 therein, as discussed below. The bracket is disposed between the posterior sheet 20 and the anterior sheet 22 so as to create a void 33 therebetween. The void 33 is configured to receive a granular material 32 therein. It should be appreciated that the anterior sheet 22, the posterior sheet 20, and the spacing brackets 24 are each lightweight and easy to be carried by the service member or other installer. This allows the service member or other installer to bring the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 with them to an area or structure 14, without having to rely on external units and resources.

More specifically, in embodiments of the invention, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 comprises the posterior sheet 20, the anterior sheet 22, and a plurality of spacing brackets 24. The posterior sheet 20 is configured to be secured to a structure 14 (such as to a wall 12). The spacing brackets 24 are each configured to be secured to the structure 14 through the posterior sheet 20. In some embodiments, the posterior sheet 20 is secured to the structure 14 by the same fastener as the spacing bracket 24. The anterior sheet 22 is configured to be secured to the spacing bracket 24 so as to create a void 33 between the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20. The void 33 is configured to receive a granular material 32 therein for providing ballistic protection to the structure 14. Typically, a plurality of spacing brackets 24 will be used, placed at intervals horizontally and/or vertically to as to provide structural stability to the anterior sheet 22 such that it can retain the granular material 32 therein.

As used herein, “anterior” and “posterior” refer to a relative location as viewed from a person (such as the installer) standing outside the structure 14. The posterior side of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10, which may include the posterior sheet 20, is disposed away from the person, against a wall 12 of the structure 14 or other object. The anterior side of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10, which may include the anterior sheet 22, is disposed toward the person, away from the wall 12 of the structure 14 or other object. It should also be appreciated that the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10, or components thereof, may be disposed on multiple sides of a structure 14. While the diagrams herein illustrate the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 being used on a wall 12 of the structure 14, some embodiments may be disposed on a roof, a door, a window, or other component of the structure 14. As mentioned above, some embodiments of the invention are configured to be free-standing, such that the installer could be on either side of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. In some of these embodiments, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 is substantially symmetrical, such that either side could be considered “anterior” and “posterior.” In some embodiments, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 has a side configured to face toward the threat, which may be considered the “anterior” side.

In embodiments of the invention, the anterior sheet 22 and posterior sheet 20 are a single continuous sheet 26, such as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. A single continuous sheet 26 allows for the granular material 32 to be retained therein. In these embodiments, the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20 are each an adjacent portion of the continuous sheet 26. The continuous sheet 26 may have a marking differentiating the anterior sheet 22 from the posterior sheet 20. Alternatively, the installer may fold the continuous sheet 26 to find the approximate center location of the continuous sheet 26. In other embodiments, the anterior sheet 22 may be sewed or otherwise secured to the posterior sheet 20. In still other embodiments, no posterior sheet 20 may be used. Instead, the granular material 32 may be secured directly against the wall 12 of the structure 14.

The continuous sheet 26 of embodiment is generally rectangular or square, or other shape. The anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20 each present a general horizontal side 34 and a general vertical side 36 (as illustrated in FIG. 7A). The continuous sheet 26 (and/or the anterior sheet 22, and/or the posterior sheet 20) is flexible, so as to allow for the void 33 to be formed therein. The continuous sheet 26 may be formed of canvas, burlap, plastic, fabric, KEVLAR, or other material. The continuous sheet 26 provides sufficient lateral strength so as to retain the granular material 32 therein. The continuous sheet 26 may be patchable, such that holes (not illustrated) that form in the anterior sheet 22 (such as from ballistic impacts, incidental contact with other objects, and standard wear and tear) may be repaired to prevent the granular material 32 from evacuating out of the void 33 through the hole. The continuous sheet 26 may also be configured to be secured to other segments of the continuous sheet 26. For example, as discussed below, the anterior sheet 22 may be configured to be secured to the posterior sheet 20 at both vertical sides 36 so as to prevent the granular material 32 from evacuating out the vertical side 36.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the spacing brackets 24 may be secured through the posterior sheet 20 to the wall 12 of the structure 14. In some instances, the wall 12 of the structure 14 may include one or more studs 38 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B and 3-6). In these instances, the spacing bracket 24 may be secured directly to the stud 38, through the wall 12 of the structure 14. The stud 38, such as a vertically aligned two inch by four inch (commonly referred to as a “2×4”) board, provides additional stability to secure the spacing bracket 24 as well as support the weight of the granular material 32 that will be suspended from the wall 12 of the structure 14 within the void 33. In other embodiments of the invention, the wall 12 of the structure 14 may not include any studs, but instead present a uniform wall thickness (such as of bricks, cinder blocks, concrete, steel, or other building material). In these embodiments, the spacing brackets 24 may be emplaced periodically at any location in the wall 12. In still other embodiments, the wall 12 of the structure 14 is insufficient to support the weight of the filled field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. In these embodiments, the below-discussed free-standing embodiment may be utilized and installed adjacent to, proximate to, or otherwise nearby the structure 14. Thus, the benefits of the structure-mounted embodiments may be achieved or approximated by using the free-standing embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the anterior sheet 22 may also be secured to the spacing bracket 24 so as to ensure a relatively minimum thickness (labeled as “T_(min)” in FIG. 1B). As can be appreciated, the thickness may bulge both horizontally (as shown in FIG. 1A) and vertically (as shown in FIG. 1B) due to the internal pressure of the granular material 32 against the anterior sheet 22 to a maximum thickness (labeled as “T_(max)” in FIG. 1B). The bulge caused by the granular material 32 may be up to a maximum thickness. Thus, the installed anterior shape may present a generally bulged shape, that resembles pinned upholstery.

In embodiments of the invention, the minimum thickness is decided at least in part based upon a threat to the structure 14, either specifically or generically. It should be noted that the maximum thickness For example, an installer may select a certain size and/or shape of spacing bracket 24 to achieve a desired minimum thickness, based upon a known or suspected threat for the structure 14. If there is a larger threat, in likelihood and/or magnitude of damage, the installer may select a larger or longer spacing bracket 24.

The granular material 32 is supported in the void 33 by the anterior sheet 22, the spacing brackets 24, and a combination of the posterior sheet 20 and wall 12 of the structure 14. The granular material 32 provides at least a portion of the ballistic protection. The granular material 32 may be sand, dirt, earth, gravel, or other locally available material. As such, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be transported to the expeditionary structure (or other location) as only the posterior sheet 20, the anterior sheet 22, and the spacing brackets 24. This minimizes the space and weight for transportation to these often-remote and dangerous locations.

In some embodiments, the locally available granular material 32 may be analyzed to determine the ballistic properties thereof. Based upon the ballistic properties determined and the estimated threat (e.g., small arms fire, grenades, indirect fire, etc.), the minimum thickness may be determined. The minimum thickness may dictate the type, orientation, number, size, and other aspects of the spacing bracket 24 to the be used. As such, the threat can be addressed without excessive material requirements or work necessary to be performed. This allows for protection of the structure 14 without superfluous work.

As an example, the 7.62×39 mm round is the leading ballistic threat in the Middle East theatre and other parts of the world due to the prevalence of the AK-47. Using concepts found in UFC 3-340-01 and TM5-855-1, it was experimentally found that for a 7.62 mm round, the maximum penetration into sand is between 4 and 10 inches depending on an “S number” of the sand. The “S number” of sand is an indicator of soil penetrability. For example, an S number from 4 to 6 indicates a medium dense, medium or coarse sand with little cementation that is wet or dry. An S number from 6-10 indicates a loose fine sand, excluding top soil. For the 7.62 mm round, a S number of 4 predicts 4 inches of penetration and a S number of 10 predicts 10 inches of penetration. Therefore, based upon the S number of the locally available sand, the installer may select a spacing bracket 24 in that range of 4 inches to 10 inches.

As another example, the 120 mm rocket is a prevalent threat in the Middle East theater. A fragment thereof traveling at 1850 ft/sec is consistent with the NATO STANAG protection level III and is a common target threat. Using similar penetration calculations and experimentation, these fragments indicate penetration less that the 7.62 mm round. This may be due to the less efficient penetrator shape of these fragments.

Other examples of threats could be 50 caliber rounds, hand grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 125 mm smooth-bore tank rounds, 122 mm howitzer rounds, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), Katusha rockets, and the like. The installer may therefore determine a desired minimum thickness, based upon the available sand or other granular material 32 as well as the anticipated threat. The minimum thickness may also be based at least in part on the structural stability of the wall 12 of the structure 14 to withstand the additional strains and stresses imparted by the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. This provides flexibility to the installer to select adequate protection for the situation without overly burdening the installation process. This may also provide flexibility in that the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 is easy enough to assemble and disassemble that upon a change in the threat, the anterior sheet 22 may be removed, the spacing bracket 24 changed for a larger version thereof, and the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 be reassembled so as to increase the ballistic protection.

Returning to FIG. 1A-B, the spacing bracket 24 will now be discussed in more detail. The spacing bracket 24 is configured to be secured to the wall 12 of the structure 14 and the anterior sheet 22. In embodiments of the invention, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 includes a wall fastener 40 (shown in FIG. 1A) configured to secure the spacing bracket 24 to the wall 12. The wall fastener 40 may also secure through the posterior sheet 20. The wall fastener 40 may be configured to secure through the wall 12 of the structure 14 into a stud 38 of the wall 12 of the structure 14, as shown in FIG. 1, or other sturdy anchor location.

Various exemplary spacing brackets 24 are illustrated in the figures. It should be appreciated that numerous different structures could perform functions as a spacing bracket 24. The first exemplary spacing bracket 24 of FIG. 1B and FIG. 2A is a multi-level support bracket 42. The multi-level support bracket 42 presents a general capital sigma shape. The multi-level support bracket 42 includes a lower wall interface 44, a lower sheet interface 46, an upper wall interface 48, and an upper sheet interface 50. The multi-level support bracket 42 may also present one or more intermediate wall interfaces 52 and one or more intermediate sheet interfaces 54. The various interfaces are interconnected by structural bracket members 56.

A second exemplary spacing bracket 24 is a masonry anchor 58 as illustrated in FIG. 2B. The masonry anchor 58 includes a base plate 60 and at least one extension arm 62. The base plate 60 is configured to be emplaced against the wall 12 of the structure 14 (such as against the posterior sheet 20). The base plate 60 presents a fastener receptor 64 configured to receive the wall fastener 40 (such as a screw, bolt, or the like) therethrough for securing into the stud 38 or through the wall 12 into a nut (not illustrated). The extension arm 62 extends from the base plate 60 so as to provide a structure to which a wire or other fastener may be secured through (or otherwise associated with) the anterior sheet 22.

Yet another exemplary spacing bracket 24 is shown in FIGS. 3-6. This exemplary spacing bracket 24 is a simplified version of the multi-level support bracket 42 of FIG. 1B. A dual-level support bracket 66 may comprise a single wall interface 68, a lower sheet interface 70, and an upper sheet interface 72 (labeled in FIG. 3). The dual-level support bracket 66 may also be configured for a vertical installation (as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6) or a horizontal installation (not shown) to increase the minimum thickness. Still yet another exemplary spacing bracket 24 is shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A-B, being a component of the lattice assembly 18.

It should therefore be appreciated that the spacing bracket 24 may take any of many forms and shapes. The spacing bracket 24 provides the above-discussed minimum thickness so as to help ensure that the granular material 32 remains at least the minimum thickness substantially throughout the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. In some embodiments, the spacing bracket 24 may be configured to allow for more than one minimum thickness. For example, the spacing bracket 24 may be configured to be installed in the above-discussed horizontal installation or the vertical installation. As another example, two or more spacing brackets 24 may be secured together (the one being disposed anterior to the other) so as to double the minimum thickness. These respective configurations may be used so as to allow the installer to select the most appropriate thickness based upon the perceived threat, the properties of the available granular material 32, the structural stability of the structure 14, and/or minimize the necessary installation work.

The anterior sheet 22 is secured to the spacing bracket 24 via a sheet fastener 74, as shown in FIG. 1B. The sheet fastener 74 secures a portion of the anterior sheet 22 to an anterior side of the spacing bracket 24. Examples of sheet fasteners could include bolts, screws, hog rings, wire, clips, or other fasteners. In embodiments of the invention, the anterior sheet 22 may additionally be secured via wires or straps stretched horizontally between the spacing brackets 24 so as to provide additional retaining strength to the anterior sheet 22. Chain link fencing, chicken wire, welded wire reinforcing (WWR), and other retaining wire could additionally or alternatively be used to provide this additional retaining strength. The wire or straps may be secured to the spacing bracket 24 via the sheet fastener 74 or other structure.

The assembly and construction of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 will now be discussed in more detail. Various exemplary steps of constructing the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 are shown in FIGS. 3-6. It should be appreciated that the discussed steps for constructing an exemplary embodiment of the invention is provided so as to clarify the structure and functions of the various components to the reader. It should also be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention may be constructed using other steps, which may include any or all of the discussed steps, and in any order.

FIG. 3 shows exemplary preparatory assembly steps that may be performed in constructing the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. In some embodiments, the installer or other person may determine a desired minimum thickness for the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 based upon the locally available granular material 32 and the local threat (as discussed above). In other embodiments, a standard minimum thickness may be used (such as a standard for the region and the threat, which may be standardized throughout an area of operations). Based upon the minimum thickness, the installer will then select the spacing brackets 24 or otherwise acquire the provided spacing brackets 24.

The installer will acquire the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20. As discussed above, the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20 may be one continuous section of fabric (or other flexible material) configured to retain the granular material 32 therein upon being sealed at the sides. Acquiring the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20 may include cutting an appropriate length of fabric. For example, an 18-foot vertical by the length of the wall 12 of the structure 14 to be covered may be appropriate for an 8-foot-high wall. The excess two feet providing sufficient slack to reach the ground, provide lateral thickness, and reach a roof 76 or other upper termination of the wall 12 of the structure 14 (as shown in FIG. 6).

The installer will secure the posterior sheet 20 segment of fabric (or other material, as discussed above) to the wall 12 of the structure 14. Securing the posterior sheet 20 may be performed by stapling or otherwise fastening the posterior sheet 20 to the wall 12 of the structure 14. Securing the posterior sheet 20 may additionally or alternatively be performed by securing the spacing brackets 24 to the wall 12 of the structure 14. As discussed above, the spacing brackets 24 may be aligned vertically along a stud 38 of the wall 12 of the structure 14, and may be spaced vertically at an interval. The interval may be based upon the strength of the anterior sheet 22 to retain the granular material 32 without excessive wear and tearing. The interval may be selected because each spacing bracket 24 provides at least one anchor point for the anterior sheet 22 that is placed thereover.

FIG. 4 shows steps performed by an installer in filling a lower section 78 of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. The installer allows the anterior sheet 22 to settle at the ground level (e.g., an underlying ground surface 80 or other lower structure, which could include a lower section of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10). The installer secures the anterior sheet 22 to at least a portion of the spacing bracket 24, so as to form the void 33 therein. The installer then fills the void 33 with the granular material 32. The filling of the granular material 32 may be performed by shoveling the granular material 32 from the surrounding underlying ground surface 80 into the void 33. The filling of the granular material 32 may alternatively or additionally be performed by directing a sandbag filling machine into the void 33.

FIG. 5 shows steps performed by an installer in filling a central or intermediate section 82 of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. The installer secures the anterior sheet 22 to a higher spacing bracket 24 and/or to a higher location of the same spacing bracket 24. This step is performed for each or a plurality of spacing brackets 24 disposed laterally and/or vertically. As such, the void 33 moves higher along the wall 12 of the structure 14 thus making the void 33 vertically larger. The installer then continues to fill the void 33 with the granular material 32. The filling of the void 33 with the granular material 32 may be performed the installer in any of the above-discussed methods.

The vertical sides 36 of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be secured in various ways. For example, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may utilize an exterior stud (not illustrated), such as for securing the lateral edges of the anterior sheet 22. The exterior stud may be added to the structure as part of the installation process. As another example, the vertical sides 36 of the anterior sheet 22 may be secured directly to the vertical sides 36 of the posterior sheet 20. The anterior sheet 22 and posterior sheet 20 will therefore form an envelope or bag for securing the granular material 32. As yet another example, the anterior sheet 22 may be secured directly to the wall 12 of the structure 14.

FIG. 6 shows steps performed by an installer in filling an upper section 84 of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. The installer continues the above-discussed steps of securing the anterior sheet 22 to the spacing brackets 24 via a sheet fastener 74, and inserting the granular material 32 into the formed void 33. Upon reaching the final spacing bracket 24, the installer may secure any excess anterior sheet 22 to a structure roof 76 or other upper segment of the structure. Closing off the top end 30 of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 prevents erosion of the granular material 32 from the void 33 by protecting the granular material 32 from wind and precipitation damage.

The field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 can also be constructed by attaching the anterior sheet 22 to all of the spacing brackets 24 and filling the entire height of the void 33 space. The filling can be with the use of a gravity fed funnel system or a pneumatic system to place the granular fill media. This allows the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 to be assembled more rapidly if these speed-loading systems are available for transferring the granular material 32 into the void 33.

It should be noted that the protection of expeditionary structures is used in this application as an exemplary field. The field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be used in other fields, such as for the protection of permanent structures, walls, perimeter fences, vehicles, air fields, hospitals, and other objects. The field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may additionally or alternatively be utilized to protect objects from non-ballistic threats, such as vehicular damage.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-9B, another embodiment of the invention is shown. While the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 are configured to adhere to and/or be installed adjacent to a structure. In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7-9, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 is configured to be free-standing. In some embodiments, the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 is configured to be used in either situation, such that the installer may choose to install the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 against a structure, free standing, or a combination thereof. As such, the various components of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be interchangeable between the structure-emplaced and free-standing embodiments.

An embodiment of a free-standing field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 comprises a lattice assembly 18, a posterior sheet 20, an anterior sheet 22, a spacing bracket 24, and a post 16. The posterior sheet 20 is associated with a posterior lattice 86 of the lattice assembly 18, and the anterior sheet 22 is associated with an anterior lattice 88 of the lattice assembly 18 (as best illustrated in FIGS. 7B-C and 9A-B). The spacing bracket 24 is secured to the posterior lattice 86 and the anterior lattice 88. The spacing bracket 24 creates a void 33 between the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20. The post 16 is configured to be installed into an underlying ground surface 80. The post 16, being installed in the underlying ground surface 80, is configured to receive the void 33 therearound so as to retain the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 in a vertical orientation. The void 33 is configured to receive a granular material 32 therein for providing ballistic protection.

In the free-standing embodiments, the lattice assembly 18 is configured to retain the continuous sheet 26 therein. In embodiments of the invention, the lattice assembly 18 comprises the posterior lattice 86, the anterior lattice 88, a first end lattice 90, and a second end lattice 92 (as illustrated in FIGS. 7A-C). The lattice assembly 18 includes a plurality of horizontal retainers and a plurality of vertical retainers. The horizontal retainers may be interweaved with the vertical retainers, so as to form a resilient lattice. In embodiments of the invention, the horizontal retainers and/or the vertical retainers are formed of metal or another rigid material.

The continuous sheet 26 (e.g., the anterior sheet 22 and and/or the posterior sheet 20) is disposed within the lattice assembly 18, such that the lattice assembly 18 can provide an inward force to counter the outward force of the granular material 32 disposed in the void 33. is associated with a posterior lattice 86 of the lattice assembly 18. Similarly, the anterior sheet 22 associated with an anterior lattice 88 of the lattice assembly 18. The anterior sheet 22 may be secured to the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior sheet 20 may be secured to the posterior lattice 86 by various fasteners. For example, a wire may be used to pierce the anterior sheet 22; travel over a vertical retainer and/or a horizontal retainer; pierce the anterior sheet 22 again; and be twisted, tied, or otherwise secured.

In embodiments of the invention, a first end sheet 94 associated with the first end lattice 90 and a second end sheet 96 associated with the second end lattice 92. In these embodiments, the continuous sheet 26 may be manufactured to fit within a single lattice assembly 18. The installer may therefore insert the continuous sheet 26 into the lattice assembly 18 and align the vertical sides 36 with their respective end lattices 90,92. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the first end lattice 90 is symmetrical with the second end lattice 92, and the first end sheet 94 is symmetrical with the second end sheet 96. As such, the continuous sheet 26 may be installed in either orientation.

In other embodiments, the anterior sheet 22 is secured to the posterior sheet 20 at a first end and a second end so as to prevent the granular material 32 from escaping, as discussed above. The securing may be done by tying, sewing, wire fasteners, mechanical fasteners, or the like. This method may be used by installers that are installing the free-standing field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 from a single continuous sheet 26. For example, embodiments of the invention are configured such that the installer can create any of various embodiments based upon the supplied components. This may include a large roll of continuous sheet 26 that may be cut to the appropriate sizes.

Additionally or alternatively, various personnel in the unit may each be tasked with carrying various components of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10, to be assembled upon reaching the destination. This may include a section of the continuous sheet 26, that may be stitched together or otherwise secured to the other sections of continuous sheet 26 to form the anterior sheet 22 and/or the posterior sheet 20. In this way, a unit that is traveling (either by foot or by vehicle) may take with them the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 to setup and install upon arrival at a certain destination, such as an area that will become a firebase, combat outpost, or the like. Some embodiments of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may also be configured to be uninstalled such that the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 can be carried from a no-longer occupied area to a newly occupied area and reuse at least a portion of the components.

In free-standing embodiments, the spacing bracket 24 secured to the posterior lattice 86 and the anterior lattice 88. In embodiments of the invention, the spacing bracket 24 is disposed at the first end lattice 90 and/or the second end lattice 92. Additional spacing brackets 24 may be disposed between the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 (such as can be seen in FIGS. 9A-9B). In other embodiments, the spacing bracket 24 is the first end lattice 90 and/or the second end lattice 92. The spacing bracket 24 may be any of the above discussed structures or similar structures. The spacing bracket 24 (and/or the lattice assembly 18) sets the minimum thickness for the conditions, as discussed above.

The spacing bracket 24 creates a void 33 between the anterior sheet 22 and the posterior sheet 20, which is subsequently filled with the granular material 32, as discussed above. The void 33 is configured to receive a granular material 32 therein for providing ballistic protection to an area. The area protected may be a compound, combat outpost, firebase, forward operating base, a hasty defensive position, or other controlled area. The area protected may also be internal to one of the above areas, such as a maintenance area, a refueling area, a parking area, a latrine area, a range area, a sleeping area, an ammunition storage area, a dining area, or other area where personnel and equipment are located. The area protected may also be other field-deployable ballistic protection systems 10. For example, if the threat exceeds the minimum thickness available on a structure-mounted field-deployable ballistic protection system 10, a free-standing field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be installed externally to the structure-mounted field-deployable ballistic protection system 10. The free-standing field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be separated from the structure-mounted field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 by a gap (not illustrated) so as to provide additional ballistic protection, and to prevent excess stress induced on the structure 14.

In embodiments of then invention, the first end lattice 90 and the second end lattice 92 each present a thickness. Similarly, the spacing bracket 24 (which may be the first end lattice 90 and/or the second end lattice 92) presents a thickness. The thickness presented by the first end lattice 90 and the second end lattice 92 is approximately the same as the thickness presented by the spacing bracket 24. The thickness may be determined based upon the determined minimum thickness, as discussed above.

In embodiments of the invention, the lattice assembly 18 is a single unit, as illustrated in FIGS. 8-9B. As such, the lattice assembly 18 may be setup proximate to other lattice assemblies, so as to form a line of field-deployable ballistic protection systems 10. The respective ends 90,92 of the lattice assembly 18 may be secured to one another, such as with wire or string. The anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 each present a length. In some embodiments of the invention, the length presented by the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 is at least three times, at least five times, at least ten times, or at least twenty times as long as the thickness.

In embodiments of the invention, the spacing bracket 24 (which may include the first end lattice 90 and/or the second end lattice 92) is pivotably secured to the anterior lattice 88 and pivotably secured to the posterior lattice 86, as best illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9B. In other embodiments, the spacing bracket 24 may be configured to be pivotably secured to the anterior lattice 88 and pivotably secured to the posterior lattice 86 upon assembling the lattice assembly 18. The spacing bracket 24 is therefore configured to be selectively placed into a collapsed position (as shown in FIG. 9A) and an open position (as shown in FIG. 9B) by pivoting the spacing bracket 24 relative to the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86. The collapsed position is shown in FIG. 9A. The open position is shown in FIG. 9B. The collapsed position allows the anterior lattice 88 to lay flat against the posterior lattice 86, such as when the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 has not yet been installed and the lattice assembly 18 is laying horizontally on the ground. The anterior lattice 88 is parallel to the posterior lattice 86 in both the collapsed position and the open position.

In some embodiments, the spacing bracket 24 and/or the end lattices 90,92 are configured to lock into the open position and/or the collapsed position. Locking the lattice assembly 18 into the open position may add structural stability to keep the installed field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 vertical and aligned. Locking the lattice assembly 18 into the collapsed position may aid in the transportation of the lattice assembly 18 to a building site. In some embodiments, the spacing bracket 24 and/or the end lattices 90,92 are configured to be secured in an intermediate position between the open position and the collapsed position. The field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 may be installed using the intermediate position to reduce the above-discussed minimum thickness in areas in which the threat is low, the available granular material 32 is of a limited available supply, the underlying ground surface 80 does not provide a stable support for the post 16, or for other considerations.

The post 16 is used to keep free-standing embodiments of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10 vertically supported. The post 16 is configured to be installed into an underlying ground surface 80. In some embodiments, the post 16 may be inserted into a hole 98 dug into the underlying ground surface 80. The hole 98 may then be filled with concrete, granular material 32, or other material. In other embodiments, the post 16 may be directly driven into the ground, such as via a pile driver, sledge hammer, or other tool. The post 16 may be a standard metal fence post, a specialized fence post, or other post. The fence post may be configured to be driven into the hole 98 in the underlying ground surface 80. The fence post may be manufactured independently of the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10, such that it is purchased and acquired separately from the field-deployable ballistic protection system 10.

The post 16, being installed in the underlying ground surface 80, is configured to receive the void 33 therearound so as to retain the lattice assembly 18 in a vertical orientation. The post 16 may pierce an underside of the continuous sheet 26. This allows the post 16 to be in the void 33. In other embodiments, the anterior sheet 22 may be secured to the posterior sheet 20 around the post 16. Because the post 16 will, in embodiments of the invention, be separated from the anterior sheet 22 and/or the posterior sheet 20 by a gap 96 on both sides at a bottom end 28, granular material 32 will be prevented from escaping the void 33 in any significant amount.

In these embodiments, the post 16 is decoupled from the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 within the void 33. The post 16 is secured to neither the anterior lattice 88 nor the posterior lattice 86. Instead, the post 16 is essentially free-standing within the void 33. As such, the post 16 is surrounded by the granular material 32 when the granular material 32 is received within the void 33. The granular material 32 therefore provides a spacer to keep the lattice assembly 18 substantially vertically aligned and centered on the post 16. In other embodiments, the post 16 may be secured to the anterior lattice 88, the posterior lattice 86, the spacing bracket 24, the first end lattice 90, the second end lattice 92, or some combination thereof. Securing the various components to the post 16 may be performed using wire, string, mechanical fasteners, or the like.

A method of providing ballistic protection to an area will now be discussed. It should be appreciated that this method may be used, in whole or in part, in connection with the above-discussed method of protecting a structure. Either or both methods may be used to provide or supplement ballistic protection to an area and/or a structure. In embodiments of the invention, the method comprises the following steps: driving the post 16 into the hole 98 in an underlying ground surface 80; placing the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 into an open position so as to present a void 33 therebetween; emplacing the anterior lattice 88 and the posterior lattice 86 over the installed post 16 such that the post 16 is disposed within the void 33; and filling the void 33 with a granular material 32 for providing ballistic protection to the area.

The method may further include a step of sealing a first end of the posterior sheet 20 to a first end of the anterior sheet 22 to prevent the granular material 32 from escaping between the first end of the posterior sheet 20 and the first end of the anterior sheet 22, and sealing a second end of the posterior sheet 20 to a second end of the anterior sheet 22 to prevent the granular material 32 from escaping between the first end of the posterior sheet 20 and the first end of the anterior sheet 22. The method may further include securing a second spacing bracket 24 to the posterior sheet 20 and the structure wall, wherein the second spacing bracket 24 is laterally displaced from the first spacing bracket 24. The method may further include securing an upper end of the anterior sheet 22 to an upper end of the posterior sheet 20 so as to reduce erosion of the granular material 32 out of the void 33.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. 

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:
 1. A field-deployable ballistic protection system comprising: a posterior sheet configured to be secured to a structure; a spacing bracket configured to be secured to the structure through the posterior sheet; and an anterior sheet configured to be secured to the spacing bracket so as to create a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet, wherein the void is configured to receive a granular material therein for providing ballistic protection to the structure.
 2. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 1, wherein the anterior sheet is contiguous with the posterior sheet.
 3. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 1, wherein the spacing bracket is a first spacing bracket, further comprising: a second spacing bracket configured to be separated vertically from the first spacing bracket; and a third spacing bracket configured to be separated horizontally from the first spacing bracket, wherein the first spacing bracket is identical to the second spacing bracket and the third spacing bracket.
 4. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 1, wherein the spacing bracket presents a general capital sigma shape, wherein the spacing bracket presents a first sheet interface and a second sheet interface.
 5. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 1, wherein the spacing bracket presents a length, wherein the length of the spacing bracket dictates a minimum thickness of the void such that the minimum thickness is the shortest distance between an installed anterior sheet and an installed posterior sheet.
 6. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 5, wherein the minimum thickness is determined based at least in part on an analysis of the locally available granular material, wherein the minimum thickness is determined based at least in part on a threat to the structure.
 7. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 6, wherein the locally available granular material is sand, wherein said analysis includes determining an S-number indicative of the ballistic resistance of the sand.
 8. The field-deployable ballistic protection system of claim 5, wherein the anterior sheet is configured to allow the granular material to bulge outward away from the spacing bracket, wherein the bulge outward defines a maximum thickness presented, wherein the maximum thickness is configured to be reduced so as to reduce the load on the structure.
 9. A field-deployable ballistic protection system comprising: a posterior sheet associated with a posterior lattice; an anterior sheet associated with an anterior lattice; a spacing bracket secured to the posterior lattice and the anterior lattice, wherein the spacing bracket creates a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet; a post configured to be installed into an underlying ground surface wherein the post, being installed in the underlying ground surface, is configured to receive the void therearound so as to retain the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice in a vertical orientation, wherein the void is configured to receive a granular material therein for providing ballistic protection to an area.
 10. The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of claim 9, wherein the post is a fence post, wherein the fence post is configured to be driven into a post hole in the underlying ground surface.
 11. The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of claim 9, wherein the post is decoupled from the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice within the void, wherein the post is surrounded by the granular material when the granular material is received within the void.
 12. The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of claim 9, further comprising: a first end sheet associated with a first end lattice; and a second end sheet associated with a second end lattice.
 13. The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of claim 12, wherein the first end lattice and the second end lattice each present a thickness, wherein the spacing bracket presents a thickness, wherein the thickness presented by the first end lattice and the second end lattice is approximately the same as the thickness presented by the spacing bracket, wherein the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice each present a length, wherein the length presented by the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice is at least five times as long as the thickness presented by the spacing bracket.
 14. The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of claim 9, wherein the spacing bracket is pivotably secured to the anterior lattice and pivotably secured to the posterior lattice, wherein the spacing bracket is configured to be selectively placed into a collapsed position and an open position by pivoting the spacing bracket relative to the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice.
 15. The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of claim 14, wherein the anterior lattice is parallel to the posterior lattice in both the collapsed position and the open position.
 16. A method of providing ballistic protection to a structure, the method comprising the following steps: securing a posterior sheet to a structure wall of the structure; securing a spacing bracket to the posterior sheet and the structure wall; securing an anterior sheet to an anterior end of the spacing bracket, so as to form a void therein; and filling the void with a granular material for providing ballistic protection to the structure.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: sealing a first end of the posterior sheet to a first end of the anterior sheet to prevent the granular material from escaping between the first end of the posterior sheet and the first end of the anterior sheet; sealing a second end of the posterior sheet to a second end of the anterior sheet to prevent the granular material from escaping between the first end of the posterior sheet and the first end of the anterior sheet.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the spacing bracket is a first spacing bracket, further comprising: securing a second spacing bracket to the posterior sheet and the structure wall, wherein the second spacing bracket is laterally displaced from the first spacing bracket.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second bracket is laterally displaced vertically above the first spacing bracket, further comprising: securing the second spacing bracket to the anterior sheet so as to vertically increase the void; and filling the void with a second set of granular material.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: securing an upper end of the anterior sheet to the structure so as to reduce erosion of the granular material out of the void. 